Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) recently welcomed students from the Vigo County School Corporation (VCSC) for a half-day of sessions designed to educate them on resources and the ability to build relationships that can offer a lifetime of value professionally, socially and spiritually. The program is a part of the Get REAL program. This program was designed by the Office of Human Resources and the Diversity Council of SMWC. The program allows students of color an opportunity to network and be mentored by professionals of color throughout the country. In turn, they can convert what they have learned from being a mentee to facilitating as a mentor for others outside the campus community.
Session speakers included Aaron Slocum, PhD, associate vice president for student affairs; Martha Reed, MS, director of the Career Center; Sara Boyer ’02, ’13G, associate vice president for student success; Kevin Lanke, associate vice president for athletics; and Erica Cox, MBA, associate director of admissions.
Before the sessions, Terry Bowe, associate vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion and human resources, hosted a luncheon with the attendees and several SMWC students participating in the College’s Get REAL Program. The SMWC students shared some of their experiences before coming to the College and during their time on campus.
The visiting students could share struggles and successes, ask presenters questions, and gain common and personal knowledge on pursuing excellence in all aspects of life.
Bowe commented about the day, “We were glad to work with Ryan Easton, principal of West Vigo High School and the Vigo County School Corporation, to bring these students to campus and to introduce them to SMWC. It was a great day, and hopefully, it benefited the students that attended.”